Congratulations!!
2026 Linny Award Winner
Performing Artist of the Year
Vernon J. Mobley
Vernon J. Mobley has been a musician for more than four decades. Whether seated behind a drum kit, at the keys of a piano, or composing an original score, his sound and style are distinctly his own.
Born in Philadelphia, Vernon comes from a long line of gifted musicians on both sides of his family. His musical foundation was built in the church, where he first played trumpet alongside his father on organ and his brother on bass before moving to drums. Even at a young age, Vernon’s talent led him to perform as a guest musician in churches throughout the tri-state area and onto the stage of the Academy of Music at just 11 years old.
College brought Vernon to the Lehigh Valley, opening the door to opportunities across a wide range of musical genres. In 2002, he founded Fusion Jazz Trio, dedicating himself to making the group a recognizable and respected name throughout the region. The band has become a staple of the local music scene, performing during the opening weekend of the SteelStacks facility, the groundbreaking ceremony for PBS39, and the lighting of the Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces. Fusion Jazz Trio has also become a fixture at Musikfest, performing at the festival every year since 2007, including the 25th anniversary finale. The band holds the second-longest winning streak in Lehigh Valley Music Awards history, earning “Best Live Jazz Performance” honors for 14 consecutive years. In addition to leading Fusion, Vernon remains one of the region’s most sought-after drummers regularly performing with multiple bands while also being a trusted first call for substitute work. He truly embodies the phrase he trademarked, “On My Way to, the Gig.”
For more than 30 years, Vernon has also served as a church organist and currently serves as Minister of Music at Restoration Temple in Allentown. For him, Sunday mornings are not performances but opportunities to share his faith and express his gift through music.
While working as an accompanist in the dance department at his alma mater DeSales University, Vernon was encouraged to explore composition for dance. That encouragement opened a new creative avenue, allowing all facets of his musicianship to work in harmony. Since then, he has composed commissioned works for DeSales University Dance Ensemble Productions, The Allentown Public Theater, Festival Unbound, and several commissioned pieces by Dancelink a Lehigh Valley Dance Studio. Among his most notable works commissioned by Dancelink is the full 55-minute original score for The Body Keeps the Score: Dancing with Trauma and Recovery, scheduled for the Musikfest Café stage in 2027. Vernon also composed the music for an entire season of the web television series InBetween.
Beyond music, Vernon is a father, grandfather, championship basketball coach, teacher, mentor, cancer survivor, and friend — a man whose passion for people is as evident as his passion for music. Above all, he is someone who genuinely wants the best for everyone he meets.
